PET imaging tracer to visualize the S1P receptor 2 (S1PR2)
Development of PET radiotracer for imaging sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2)
A new PET tracer is being developed to image the S1PR2 receptor in people with conditions like multiple sclerosis and bladder cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179198 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are making a small molecule that can be labeled for PET scans and that preferentially binds the S1PR2 receptor. They will test the tracer in laboratory experiments and animal models to check where it goes in the body, how specifically it binds, and how clearly it shows up on PET images. The team will use autoradiography and biodistribution studies to measure uptake and specificity before considering human imaging. The work focuses on S1PR2 because it helps control immune cell behavior, inflammation, and processes important in MS and some cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future participants would be people with multiple sclerosis, bladder cancer, or other conditions where S1PR2 is suspected to play a role, once human imaging studies begin.
Not a fit: People without S1PR2-related conditions or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit are unlikely to benefit now, since the work is preclinical tracer development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this tracer could allow doctors and researchers to see S1PR2 activity noninvasively and help guide diagnosis, monitoring, or development of treatments for S1PR2-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: While PET tracers for other receptors and some S1P pathway targets have been developed, imaging S1PR2 in humans is largely novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tu, Zhude — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Tu, Zhude
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.